European Cherry Fruit Fly

Rhagoletis cerasi

Images of this species:

Common look-alikes:

Identification

Adult flies are 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch long. Both males and females are mostly black with yellow to orange heads and a large yellow dot on their back. They have transparent wings with dark bands.

Signs of Infestation

  • Females usually lay one egg beneath the skin of each piece of fruit. Once they hatch, the larvae develop inside the fruit and feed for up to 6 weeks.
  • Larvae-infested fruit may have dark soft spots or appear wilted or shriveled.
  • As mature larvae emerge from the fruit, they may leave behind visible exit holes.

Biology

Habitat

European cherry fruit fly prefers sweet cherries and honeysuckle, but may also attack tart cherries.

Life Cycle

Adults typically emerge from May to July and have an average lifespan of 2 to 4 weeks. Females usually lay one egg beneath the skin of each piece of fruit. Once they hatch from the eggs, the larvae develop inside the fruit and feed for up to 6 weeks. As the larvae develop, they damage the fruit pulp. Mature larvae exit the fruit through emergence holes, drop to the ground, and burrow into the soil. Once in the soil, they pupate within a few days and overwinter in the soil underneath or near the host plant.

Ecological Threat

European cherry fruit fly has the potential to infest 100% of sweet and tart cherry crops causing cherries to be unmarketable. With a value of about $767 million for sweet cherries, and $106 million for tart cherries in the U.S., infestation could cause large economic losses for growers as well as possible quarantines.

Management Options

The European cherry fruit fly targets cherries, laying eggs under the fruit’s skin. Larvae feed on the fruit pulp, causing damage. Management includes monitoring with yellow sticky traps, applying bait spray treatments, soil drenching, and removing fallen fruit to prevent reinfestation. In areas with infestations, it's important to adhere to quarantine guidelines to prevent spreading. The fly has been detected in some New York counties as well as in Ontario and Quebec, but not yet in Vermont. (USDA APHIS).

Vermont Distribution

European cherry fruit fly has not been detected in Vermont. In the United States, the European cherry fruit fly has been detected in Niagara, Erie, Orleans, Monroe, and Wayne Counties in New York and Ontario and Quebec in Canada.

How You Can Help

Know and follow any quarantine restrictions in fruit fly-infested areas.

  • If you travel to Canada, be advised that you may not bring cherries from Ontario into the United States.
  • Never remove fresh produce from your property if you are in a European cherry fruit fly quarantine area. View quarantine maps.

Citations

Photo Credit

Alison Morris, Bugwood.org, 5584635, 5584636, 5584637, 5584635

Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org, 5364266

Information Credit

USDA Pest Alert

USDA New Pest Response Guidelines

New York State Integrated Pest Management